Drill head



.Nlalyjg 1959 A.- P. sPEcKlN ETAL 2,384,818

DRILL HEAD Filed May 3l, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet- 1 U14/155 BAS/wcmPINVENTORS May 5, 1959 A. P. sPEcKlN ET AL 2,884,818

DRILL HEAD 4Filed May 31, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 ALFRED PSPEcK/N c/AMESBAsHoR INVENTORS f. 2,884,818 Ice Piatented May 5,

DRILL HEAD Alfred P. Speckin and James R. Bashor, Cincinnati,

Ohio, assignors to United States Drill Head Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio Application May 31, 1955, Serial No. 512,269

9 Claims. (Cl. 77-22) l This invention relates to improvements in adrill head, and is adapted particularly to heads of the adjustablemultiple spindle type.

An object of the invention is to provide a drill head structure for theperformance of special work, but which includes as a major part of itsstructure a basic standardized unit serving as the foundation for anassembly designed to perform the special work or job specied. As theresult of this objective, a manufacturer may keep on hand a supply ofthe basic units in readiness for application of special structurethereto for the performance of any particularly specified job, with theadvantage that an order received for a special drilling pattern may bewell on the way to fulfillment, upon receipt of the order andspecications.

Another object of the invention is to obtain the advantages, resultingdirectly from the advantage above stated, of reducing the expense ofmanufacture by'eliminating hasty engineering and production'procedure,expensive overtime work, and errors due to hasty procedures inengineering and production.

A further object of the invention is to structurally improve a multiplespindle head for drilling, tapping, reaming and the like, in theinterests of simplicity, accuracy, durability and lowered cost ofmanufacture.

Another object is to make it possible for a customer owning a basicstandardized unit of a head, to obtain from the head manufacturer thespecialized minor assembly needed in performing any special drilling,tapping, or reaming job, without returning the basic unit to the headmanufacturer, thereby effecting a saving of time and expense in handlingand shipping.

Another object is to simplify and expedite relocationl of spindles in adrill head, without loss of accurate and rigid support for the spindles.

The foregoing and other objects are attained -by the means describedherein and illustrated upon the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the improved drill head of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 3--3of Fig. 1, altered to the extent of showing the -gears in a mommonvertical plane in the interests of clarity and simplicity f disclosure.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental cross-sectional view of a modication.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an eccentric or drum. forming a detailof the invention.

The drill head of the present invention consists of two assemblies,indicated generally by the characters 6 and. 7, the assembly 6 being theupper assembly herein referred to as the basic standardized unit. Thelower assembly 7 is the special minor assembly which may be formed orbuilt in accordance with customer specifications, to locate the spindlesin various patterns or arrangements for the performance of any desiredor required operation of drilling, tapping, teaming, or the like` Thetwo assemblies are separable along the joint 8 at the locating pins 9.

The upper or basic unit 6 is in itself a complete adjust-` able multiplespindle head which may be used as such by the substitution of a drillspindle for the adjustable idler shaft 10. That is, by removing thescrews 12, dropping the lower assembly 7, and replacing the idler shaft10 with a spindle, the upper assembly may be -used as a drill head thespindle of which may be adjusted laterally by rotating the eccentric ordrum 13 and locking it in the adjusted position. A proper direction ofrotation Vfor the replacement spindle may be had by reversing the powersource, or by adding or subtracting an idler gear. In the example shown,the upper or basic unit includes two independent eccentrics or drums 13,but in practice the unit may include a greater number of such eccentrics or drums, depending upon the number of spindlesV required forperformance of the particular drilling job specified. The shape and sizeof the head will of course be determined by the number of spindlesincorporated therein. The spindles illustrated upon the accompanyingdrawings, are identified by the characters 14 and 15.

The following is a description of the upper or basic standardized unit6. This unit comprises a main casing or gear housing 16 having a topwall 17 secured in place by screws 5, and a circumferential lower flange18. The` flange may carry the locating pins 9 which position they loweror minor unit relative to the flange. At the approximate center of themain casing is an upstanding main shaft 19 which is adapted forconnection to a source of power, such as a motor driven spindle or shaftof a drilling machine. The shaft 19 may be supported for rotation in asuitable bearing 20, and carries a driving gear 21 xed thereon. Gear 21is in mesh with an idlerl gear 22 which drives another idler gear 23,the latter being suitably fixed to the upper portion of the drum shaft24, as by means of a key 25. The shaft 24 may be journalled in suitablebearings 26 and '27 supported by the main casing and the drum oreccentric 13. The axis of shaft 24 coincides with the axis of rotationof the drum or eccentric.

The adjustable idler shaft 10 is rotatably supported by the drum 13 inbearings 2S and 29, located upon the drum in position to dispose shaft10 in offset relationship to shaft 24v, the shafts being parallel to oneanother. By means of gears 30 and 31, fixed to the drum shaft 24 and tothe idler shaft 10, respectively, a drive is effected from shaft 24 toshaft 10. These gears are constantly in mesh with one another, so thatthe adjustable idler shaft 10 will be driven by shaft 24 notwithstandingrotational adjustments of drum 13 about its shaft 24, for disposing theshaft 1t) at various distances from the center-line of the drill head,the center-line being coaxial with the drive shaft 19.

The drum or eccentric 13 is in the form of a cylinder, and may beslightly enlarged at its lower end to provide a flange 32 snugly butrotationally litted to an enlarged annular bore 33 in the casing 16. Thereduced diameter portion 34 of the bore similarly supports the upperbearing portion 35 of the drum, whereas end thrust in the upwarddirection is resisted Iby the shoulder or abutment 36 where the drumange rests upon the casing. The drum may be cut away transversely toprovide a chamber 37 which accommodates the gears 30 and 31.

In the upper portion preferably, the drum may be annularly grooved as at38, to receive an element of a clamp or lock the purpose of which is tofix the drum selectively in `any rotated position. In the example shown,a

cylinder clamp is suggested for the purpose, although as,l

will be understood, clamps or locks of various other types 3 usualcooperative sleeves 39 and 40 axially arranged upon a bolt 41, with thesleeves complementarily tapered on an `angle as at 42, so that byadvancing the nut 43 Ialong the bolt, one of the sleeves will be thrownoi center relatively, to 'bear firmly against the wall of the groove 38and thereby clamp the drum against rotation. The cylinder clamp.elements may be housed within a bored boss 4 4 which is formedintegrally with the housing or casing y16.

Upon loosening the clamp nut 43, the drum 13 may b e rotated to adjustedpositions. Access to the drurn for the purpose of rotating same, may behad through an elongate slot 45 formed horizontally in the casing 16,and through which may be inserted a suitable implement to1 engage one ofseveral holes 46 formed in the periphery of thedrum. By inserting lanimplement such Ias a rod, in Iany one of the holes 46, the leveragenecessaryfor rotating the drum is obtained. As was previously pointedout, such rotation of the drum about its vertical axis servesto swingthe drum shaft and its gear 47 in a cir-cular path, whereby said gearmay be placed in proper position to mesh with the spindle gear 48.

vThe drilling or tapping spindle 14, with its `gear 48, is mounted uponthe lower or minor assembly 7, which includesa vertical bore 49-50adapted to receive the spindle unit. To provide the maximum lateralsupport for the spindle unit, and to reduce the weight of the lowerassembly, the latter may be made hollow as shown, with two parallelwalls 51 and 52. In effect, however, the two walls may be considered asone, and may be referred to as the plate of the lower assembly or unit.The plate has an extending flange 53 drilled as at 54 to receive theseveral locating pins 9.

The` spindle unit may comprise a quill or cylindrical body member 55fitted with internal bearings 56 and 57 which rotationally support thespindle shaft, and at the upper end of said shaft is xed the gear 48. Aretaining nut 58 locks the gear in position, and may be removed for thepurpose of fitting gears of different diameters to the upper end of thespindle shaft. The quill may have a shoulder 59 to abut the lower faceof the plate, and a suitable fastener 60 may be employed to hold thequill in position upon the plate, with gear 48 in proper mesh with gear47. The lower end of the spindle 14, as usual, carries suitable means,not shown, for vholding a drill, tap, or other tool.

At 61 is indicated a gear locator, or locating detent the purpose ofwhich is to provide a snap latch or stop for arresting rotative movementof the drum 13, as the drum is indexed to bring gear 47 into mesh withthe spindle `gear 48. The locating detent or latch may comprise atubular case 62 containing a plunger 63 projected upwardly by a springor other resilient means 64. Near its upper end, the case 62 may .carrya fixed head 65 adapted to rest within a recess 66 of the plate part 51,leaving the plunger tip exposed above the plane of the plate part. Abore 67 in the plate supports the case of the locating device, which maybe secured within the bore 'by means of a drive iit, or by screw threadsif desired.

`The plunger of the detent is adapted to enter Ia socket 69 provided onthe lower `end of the adjustable idler shaft 10, axially thereof. lThesocket may be formed directly in the material of the shaft, or asindicated, it maybe formed in an insert 70 of bearing metal so 'as tominimize friction and wear. The detent plunger is to be located upon theplate 51 with such accuracy, as to ensure proper intermeshing of thegears 47 and 48 when the drum 13 is rotated for placing the idler gear47 in mesh with' the spindle gear 48. With the detent solidly centeredin the socket 69, the drum may be tightly clamped in the adjustedposition, for maintaining the gears in proper mesh.

The proper position of the detent upon the plate 51, with relation tothe spindle axis, is determined by the' sizes of gears 47 and 48. Morespecifically, the detent is to be mounted on the plate at a distancefrom the axis of the spindle, equal to the sum of the pitch diameters ofgears 47 and 48. Moreover, the detent is to be on the orbit of travel ofthe idler shaft axis, so that at any one position of the idler shaft 10the detent will engage the socket 69.

It will be understood, of course, that in the absence of a locatingdevice such as 63-69, the gears 47 and 48 may be meshed bythe trialmethod, consisting of rotating the drum in one direction and the otheruntil the gears are believed to be inv proper mesh. However, the detentor gear-,locator is preferred, as it eliminates all possi- 'bility oferror in' meshing the gears on their true pitch circles.

Attention is directed to Fig. 4, the only purpose of which is to showthat the parts 63 and 69 of the gear locator or snap latch may bereversed, if desired, the plate 5l carrying the socket 69 and the idlershaft 10 carrying the spring-projected detent 63.

Referring now to Fig. 2, let it be assumed that the spindles 14 and 15have been applied to the lower assembly 7 at certain distances from thecenter-line of the head, for the performance of a specific drilling jobon a work-piece. Assume further, that the job for which the spindlearrangement was originally set up, has been completed, and that theparticular spindle arrangement illustrated is no longer needed. Themachinist will thereupon' remove the screws 12 and displace the lowerunit or lassembly 7 from the upper basic unit 6, leaving the drum shaftand gear 47 in place upon the unit 6. The drilling spindles 14 and 15,of course, will remain on the lowerunit, but may be detached therefromby removing the screws 6 0.

Now, if a new and different drilling job is to be performed, themachinist will supply the details thereof to` the drill headmanufacturer, who will produce a new lower assembly 7 adapted forperformance of the new drilling job. T he new lower assembly will t theexisting head casing 6, but its spindle-receptive holes 49-50 and anyothers to be provided, will be formed in the plate Sl-SZ tosuit thelocations of holes to be drilled or tapped inV performing the new job.The drill head manufacturer will locate not only the spindle holes, butwill also drill the -lioles for the locating detents. The locations forthe detents are determined by calculations which take into account thepitch diameters of the spindle gear and the adjustable idler gear, andthe position of the spindle with respect to the drum axis. If desired,the head manufacturer may furnish the new lower assembly complete withspindles and detents installed, whereupon the customer or machinist uponreceipt of the assembly need only release the drum clamp, rotate thedrum to dispose the gear 47 ont of the way of the spindle gear, and thenbolt the lower assembly to the upper unit in the position determined bythe locating pins. The final step in perfecting the assembly will bethat of rotating the drum, by means of a rod or similar implementapplied to th'e'spanner holes 46, until the socket 69 of the idler shaft10 registers with the `spring plunger or detent 63. When these partsregister, they will engage with a snap action which caribe felt by themechanic, who will then know that the gears 47 and 48 are in propermesh. After tightening the drum clamp 41 and providing the necessarylubrication, the head is ready for use in the drilling or tapping of thenew work-piece.

As was previously pointed out herein, the basic upper assembly 6 may beused independently of the lower assembly 7 as an adjustable spindle headof limited application, by the substitution of drilling or tappingspindles for, the adjustable idler shafts llt), which are easilyremovable. Of course, this may require operation of the power source inreverse direction' to obtain a proper direction ofl rotation' of1 thespindle, or as an alternative, an even assainir;Y

number vof idler gears may be provided in the train constituting thetransmission.

In conclusion, it should lbe understood that the device as constructedin accordance with the present invention, will effect great savings oftime, labor, and materials in the manufacturing field. It will greatlyexpedite the lling of orders for drill heads needed in the manufactureof drilled work-pieces, and will thereby contribute materially toprogress in the production of manufactured igoods. The means wherebythese and other advantages are attained, are simple and inexpensive, andno sacritice of durability or serviceability is suffered in practicingthe invention.

Itr will be understood, of course, that proper and adequate bearings,gearing, and materials are contemplated in actual production of thedevice, and that various modifications and changes in structural detailsmay be resorted to in accordance with good engineering practice, Withinthe scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

l. A multiple spindle head comprising in combination, a basic upper unitincluding a gear casing, a rotatable drive shaft journalled in thecasing and having a driving gear fixed thereon, a drum in the casingsupported for rotation in offset relationship to the drive shaft, anadjustable idler shaft rotatably supported -by the drum in offsetrelationship to the axis of rotation of the drum, an idler gear fixed onsaid idler shaft, means on the casA ing transmitting rotation of thedrive shaft gear, to the idler shaft in al1 rotated positions of thedrum, a lower replaceable unit in the form of a plate detachably securedto the basic upper unit, a tool-supporting spindle rotatably mountedupon and displaceable with said replaceable unit independently of theidler shaft of the basic upper unit, a spindle gear fixed upon saidspindle in position to be engaged and disengaged with respect to theidler shaft gear upon rotation of the drum relative to the casing, andmeans accessible exteriorly of the gear casing of the basic upper unit,for rotating the drum and thereby adjusting the idler shaft gear towardand from the spindle gear.

2. A multiple Lspindle head comprising in combination, a basic upperunit including a gear casing, a rotatable drive shaft journalled in thecasing and having a driving gear fixed thereon, a drum in the casingsupported for rotation in offset relationship to the drive shaft, anadjustable idler shaft rotatably supported by the drum in olsetrelationship to the axis of rotation of t-he drum, an idler gear fixedon said idler shaft, means on the casing transmitting rotation of thedrive shaft gear to the idler shaft in all rotated positions of thedrum, a lower replaceable unit in the form of a plate detachably securedto the basic upper unit, a tool-supporting spindle rotatably mountedupon and displaceable with said replaceable unit independently of theidler shaft of the basic upper unit, a spindle gear fixed upon saidspindle in position to be engaged and disengaged with respect to theidler shaft gear upon rotation of the drum relative to the casing, meansaccessible exteriorly of the gear casing of the basic upper unit, forrotating the drum and thereby adjusting the idler shaft gear toward andfrom the spindle gear, and cooperative stop means on the idler shaft andthe replaceable unit, to ensure proper meshing of the idler gear withthe spindle gear.

3. A multiple spindle head comprising in combination, a basic upper unitincluding a gear casing, a rotatable drive shaft journalled in thecasing and having a driving gear fixed thereon, a drum in the casingsupported for rotation in offset relationship to the drive shaft, anadjustable idler shaft rotatably supported by the drum in offsetrelationship to the axis of rotation of the drum, an idler gear fixed onsaid idler shaft, means on the casing transmitting rotation of the driveshaft gear to the idler shaft in all rotated positions of the drum, alower replaceable unit in the form of a plate detachably secured to i 6the basic upper unit, a tool-supporting spindle rotatably mounted uponsaid replaceable unit in substantial parallelism with the idler shaft ofthe basic upper unit, a spindle gear fixed upon said spindle to meshwith the idler shaft gear, means accessible exteriorly of the gearcasing of the basic upper unit, for rotating the drum and swinging theidler shaft gear toward and from the spindle gear, and a snap latchdisposed intermediate the idler shaft and the plate, to arrest swingingmovement of the idler shaft upon predetermined rotational movement ofthe drum.

4. A multiple spindle head comprising in combination, a basic upper unitincluding a gear casing, a rotatable drive shaft journalled in thecasing and having a driving gear fixed thereon, a drum in the casingsupported for rotation in offset relationship to the drive shaft, anadjustable idler shaft rotatably supported by the drum in offsetrelationship to the axis of rotation of the drum, an idler gear fixed onsaid idler shaft, means on the casing transmitting rotation of the driveshaft gear to the idler shaft in all rotated positions of the drum, alower replaceable unit in the form of a plate detachably secured to thebasic upper unit, a tool-supporting spindle rotatably mounted upon saidreplaceable unit in substantial parallelism with the idler shaft of thebasic upper unit, a spindle gear fixed upon said spindle to mesh withthe idler shaft gear, means accessible exteriorly of the gear casing ofthe basic upper unit, for rotating the drum and swinging the idler shaftgear toward and from the spindle gear, a detent on the plate resilientlyurged constantly toward the drum, and located in position to be struckby the idler shaft as the drum is rotated, the idler shaft having asocket on its axis to receive the detent and locate the idler shaft,with the gears of the idler shaft and the spindle in mesh, and means forfixing the location of said gears as determined by the detent.

5. A multiple spindle head comprising in combination, a basic upper unitincluding a gear casing, a rotatable drive shaft journalled in thecasing and having a driving gear fixed thereon, a drum in the casingsupported for rotation in offset relationship to the drive shaft, anadjustable idler shaft rotatably supported by the drum in offsetrelationship to the axis of rotation of the drum, an idler gear fixed onsaid idler shaft, means on the casing transmitting rotation of the driveshaft gear to the idler shaft in all rotated positions of the drum, alower replaceable unit in the form of a plate detachably secured to thebasic upper unit, a tool-supporting spindle rotatably mounted upon saidreplaceable unit in substantial parallelism with the idler shaft of thebasic upper unit, a spindle gear fixed upon said spindle to mesh withthe idler shaft gear, means accessible exteriorly of the gear casing ofthe basic upper unit, for rotating the drum to adjust the idler shaftgear into mesh with the spindle gear, and means for fixing the locationof the gears so meshed.

6. A device as specified by claim 5, wherein the last mentioned meanscomprises a detent on the plate resiliently urged constantly toward thedrum, and located in position to be struck and depressed by the idlershaft as the drum is rotated, the idler shaft having a socket on itsaxis to receive the detent and locate the idler shaft, with the gears ofthe idler shaft and the spindle in mesh.

7. As a new article of manufacture, a spindle locating plate unit fordetachable fixation to a drill head having a rotatable bodily swingableidler gear shaft, said unit comprising a plate portion bored to receiveat least one toolcarrying spindle including a gear rotatable relative tothe plate, and an idler gear shaft locator on the plate, spaced from theaxis of the spindle bore a distance equal to the sum of the pitchdiameters of the spindle gear and the idler shaft gear, said idler gearshaft locator being in the form of a snap latch on the plate to engagean end of the idler gear shaft.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a spindle locating plate unit fordetachable fixation to a drill head casing including a rotatable idlershaft having an end socket, and a gear on the shaft, both bodilyswingable laterally to various adjusted positions, said unit comprisingaplate portion bored to receive at least one tool-carrying spindleincluding a gear rotatable relative to the plate, and an idler shaftlocator on the plate, conlprising a detent resiliently urged in adirection toward and parallel to the idler shaft, for engaging the endsocket of the idler shaft, said detent being mounted on the plate andspaced from the axis of the spindle bore a distanceequal to the sum ofthe pitch diameters of the spindle gear and the idler shaft gear.

9. Asa new article of manufacture, a spindle locating plate unit fordetachable fixation to a drill head casing including a rotatable idlershaft having a central detent resiliently urged outwardly from one endthereof, and a gear on the shaft, both bodily swingable laterally tovari- 15 2,608,112

ous adjusted positions, Vsaid unitucomprising a plate por,

tion bored to receive at least one tool-carrying spindle,

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,017,527 Carlson oct. 115, 1935. 2,114,039 verderber e1 a1. Apr. 12,193sl 2,458,859 Kasten Jan. 11, 1949 Speckin Aug'. 26, 1952

